Look at what the General Staff is busy with!

Meral Danış Beştaş of the DEM Party not only compared the terrorist leader in İmralı to Mandela, but also revealed their new goals by saying, “He later became President, gained his freedom, and received the Nobel Peace Prize.” Pervin Buldan, a frequent visitor to İmralı, also announced in their latest meeting that the terrorist leader had requested to conduct an interview and hold a press conference with members of the press, stating, “I believe I have such a right.”

We are in a “Terror-Free Turkey” process; that is why, while the terrorist leader and the DEM members are raising the stakes so recklessly, let us recount what happened to a retired commander of ours who opposes the opening.

This commander is retired Brigadier General Celalettin Bacanlı.

He was acquitted after being detained for 14 months in the February 28 conspiracy case.

His most significant characteristic is that he served for years as the commander of the TSK Rehabilitation and Care Center, where our veterans are treated.

Furthermore, he is a classmate from the War Academy of General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, who was appointed as Chief of General Staff last August after Metin Gürak was retired on the grounds of “lack of cadre”, even though his term had not expired and he had not reached the age limit.

He Opposed the Opening at Anıtkabir

First, let us write down Bacanlı’s “crimes.”

On December 27, he attended the events held at Anıtkabir on the occasion of the 106th anniversary of Atatürk’s arrival in Ankara. He was wearing a jersey that read, “No to the so-called Terror-Free Turkey.”

Upon leaving Anıtkabir, he made some statements against the process. He published the recording of this both on his own social media account and in his class WhatsApp group.

He also made the following post on his social media account:

“We said no to the so-called ‘terror-free Turkey’ project. We swore that we would not allow Sèvres. We showed that the Republic is not ownerless. Unfortunately, at Anıtkabir, it was not permitted to say ‘How happy is the one who says I am a Turk’ or ‘We are the soldiers of Atatürk.’ I was very saddened on behalf of my country. But everything is free for the one-man rule....!”

Since he is also a national athlete, he participated in the 90th Great Atatürk Run, organized for the anniversary of Atatürk’s arrival in Ankara, the next day wearing the same jersey. In the statement he made to journalists after the run, he criticized the opening again and summarized his points as follows:

“After Atatürk began the National Struggle, he tore up and threw away Sèvres. Three years later, he obtained the title deed of Turkey with Lausanne. Unfortunately, there is an event we have been experiencing in recent days. Its name is the so-called terror-free Turkey project. Yes, we all want a Turkey without terror. However, the things done under this name will unfortunately ensure the return of the Sèvres that Atatürk tore up and threw away. This is not my opinion; it has been revealed by the report of the terrorist leader and the DEM, which is the extension and political wing of the PKK... We cannot allow the return of Sèvres... There was a process called the ‘solution process’ started 14 years ago so that mothers would not cry. Again, the press had been pressured, the public silenced, and operations stopped. What happened in the end? Unfortunately, the terrorist organization regrouped and declared so-called self-governance... In that project, our mothers cried, we gave nearly a thousand martyrs, and the same scenario is being experienced again... None of us have the right to sleep.”

These Bans Were Imposed

After these events and statements, when he went to the Officers' Club one evening—a place he rarely visited—he could not enter. Because an entry ban had been imposed on him.

He also learned that the Chief of General Staff, his classmate from the War Academy, had requested the removal of the video of the statement he made upon leaving Anıtkabir on December 27 from the class WhatsApp group because he did not find it appropriate, and that it had been removed.

First, let us convey Bacanlı’s reaction to the incident in the WhatsApp group; he said, “Its removal is not important at all. However, it is very ugly and unnecessary for such offices to deal with such trivial matters. From now on, I will continue my struggle against both decisions and situations that are contrary to the interests of our country and the so-called terror-free Turkey project, not personally with these offices, but by increasing it on every platform.”

Regarding the Officers' Club ban, he noted that a similar ban had been imposed on many patriotic commanders, especially retired admirals who defended the Montreux Convention in the past, and stated the following:

“This decision may suit some people, but it does not suit these offices. Especially using it as a tool to silence and pressure retired soldiers does not suit them at all. I condemn the aforementioned practice because it is very ugly, mediocre, unethical, and an excessive use of force. I don't care at all whether I enter the Officers' Club or not; it doesn't bother me; but the way it is implemented and the approach are disturbing and never acceptable. Because retired soldiers are not the servants, orderlies, or soldiers of those currently in office. We are only the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal. This should never be forgotten. It was like this when we were on duty, and it is like this now. Of course, I will make my legal application regarding this matter. I will defend my rights to express, disseminate, and criticize my opinion within the framework of the Constitution, laws, law, and principles of justice to the end. The Ministry of National Defense may have a different opinion on the so-called terror-free Turkey project, but I do not have to think like the Ministry. In my criticisms, I did not shake my finger, I did not insult, and I did not say things like ‘know your place.’ Even if I don't enter the Officers' Club, I will walk with my head held high in society as I always have. I will not be ashamed of anyone. But will those who do this be in the same situation when they enter the officers' clubs after they retire?”

While emphasizing that offices like the Ministry and the General Staff should focus on their primary duties instead of such things, Bacanlı drew attention to the death of the Libyan Chief of General Staff and his delegation in a plane crash, what happened to the lieutenants at the Tuzla Infantry School and the Military Academy, and the silence regarding the fact that martyr mother Pakize Akbaba was told to “know your place” while being pointed at, and the fact that a DEM deputy slandered the TSK as “blood-fed occupiers and rapists” during budget negotiations, and invited “those who deal with the Officers' Club ban to debate on any television channel they want, if they trust themselves.”

Finally, stating that he read the report announced by the commission in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey line by line and that this report, which documents how the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey will be dismantled, will go down in history as a black stain, Bacanlı said, “The real struggle against the so-called terror-free Turkey project will be waged from now on.”

Müyesser YILDIZ

February 22, 2026